#discovering gyaru was an emotional experience 4 me

[pinkaditty]

How have you been doing, pink?? Are you recovering well?

Also I saw your tags in that one thing we did abt things we could talk abt for an hour and I almost forgot to ask: how did you get into gyaru??

hihi aya i am recovering well!! not in much pain anymore besides my legs bc they were nearly crushed in the accident but im otherwise okay! my immune system is total dogshit though so i was immediately hit with a bad cold after most of my pain had left and im STILL recovering from that cold. im so tired of being ill

and please call me mal or malibu, ur a trusted moot atp

also i read ur tags on ur post 4 the same thing and im soso curious. please. what do u know about celtic mythology....

anyways. me yapping about how i discovered gyaru. sorry! tw 4 mention of racism.

im just gonna immediately dive in2 the gyaru thing: it started when i was in my first year of college. i hadn't learned of it earlier and almost every day i wish i had discovered it sooner but so be it! i think it was in a random twitter thread about j-fashion that caught my interest. iirc gyaru was the most interesting out of all of them so i decided 2 do some more research on that one.

relevant background: by this point in my life, as all late teenagers do, i was working on completing the mesh that was supposed 2 be my sense of self and i hadn't really decided on a style that was perfect 4 me. i had styles i liked and disliked but nothing that really felt "perfect". i had robbed myself of allowing myself 2 be girly in most of grade school out of the internal need 2 be "different" and simultaneously being depressed, so i was going through my fashion discovery phase a bit late.

anyway, upon going through threads abt gyaru, i found myself just wanting 2 try it out 4 fun. id found myself more attracted 2 girly things lately, so it was hime gyaru that caught my eye first. as cool as yamanba, tsuyome, and ganguro seemed, i just didn't think i quite fit the bill 4 those, so i half-heartedly settled on hime gyaru. the label of gyaru felt right, but being hime gyaru in specific didn't feel like the best-fitting glove 4 me. this is why 4 the first month or so of being in2 gyaru, i wasn't super emotionally invested, but i found myself wanting 2 start anyway. my wardrobe slowly shifted and began 2 include things along the lines of hime gyaru outfits, which were cute! but after a while grew old far quicker than id anticipated. at first, i was dissatisfied, thinking that maybe this was just a fashion phase. despite that, i still decided 2 stick with gyaru, because i liked it, but i still couldn't put my finger on what substyle suit me best.

i should probably clarify that the reason i wanted 2 stick with gyaru so badly was probably because of the history i had found behind it after some digging. gyaru was inspired by many, many things, but an important factor was the style of western african american women in the 70s-80s. bold makeup, long nails, showy clothing, and lots of accessories were in pretty strongly then, considering the surge of black pride after the jim crow era. as a black woman myself, i was immediately inspired. it can be hard 2 interpret when you've never experienced it firsthand, but an entire life of rejection, assumption, and limitation simply due 2 a feature about your skin that you cannot control really sucks, so i, at that point, was also learning how to take pride in my own skin after years and years of being subjected to questionable, at best, and abusive, at worst, treatment from my surroundings. i was totally in awe that something made by people i descended from had become so popular that it inspired one of the biggest J-fashion movements ever. plus, i liked the droop makeup. it was a cute twist. and something really filled my heart upon discovering that japanese women created this style 2 break free from limiting beauty standards. no more conforming. no more coloring in the lines. they wanted 2 escape, and that was admirable. i wanted 2 escape, too.

after a while, a switch flipped. im not sure how or when or why, but a switch flipped. suddenly the girly, frilly, cutesy vibe of hime, roma, and himekaji no longer attracted me. i wanted bold colors, bold nails, bold makeup, and a bold attitude. i wanted 2 do away with the classic girliness of hime and instead veer towards more crass, wild, and colorful styles. "get wild and be sexy" was all i thought about. i wanted 2 get wild and be sexy and stop conforming 2 whatever the white-dominated society of america deemed appropriate. and suddenly! my favorite substyles were yamanba, ganguro, banba, tsuyome, and onee! suddenly i wanted 2 tan my skin a bit more! suddenly i liked hibiscus flowers and plumerias and wanted them in my hair! suddenly my favorite braiding hair color was blonde! suddenly i had the confidence 2 wear bikinis! it was like a tidal wave of change. once the wave had cleared, it had left an entirely new beach in its wake, and that beach was me.

2 be honest, i think the switch was triggered by realizing i didn't have 2 conform 2 the girly standard if i didn't want 2. i could just. be me. and accept the truth that it didn't matter if people liked me or not. at least i was being me.

not much else 2 tell besides that! i changed my wardrobe, started getting long acrylics (i can't function now if they're not xtra long), practiced makeup, decorated my room, changed my attitude (this took some time), and changed the way i type! the whole reason i use "2" and "4" is 4 the sake of the 'textspeak' vibe and because it's cunt. that and i use a lot of gyaru language, but with my friends specifically. im working on integrating it in2 my general lifestyle.

i still have a lot of steps 2 take, but gyaru lives in my head at this point. its been 3 long years of self-discovery, and each step has been perfect. this style is perfect. even before i discovered gyaru, when i would do my makeup 4 fun, i would draw my eyeliner downturned and connect it 2 my eye, like a droop! in a way, it was meant 2 be.

anyways that's that. i promise there's more between the lines here but im tired and its late and i wanted 2 get this ask out b4 too long. just know that if there was a gyaru version of the scarlet rot that Melania from Elden Ring has, i would have it. if you want more details, feel free 2 ask, but they won't be answered immediately... still writing a romeo x reader fic in which he teaches u makeup and that's currently sucking up most of my commitment.

[tobiama]

recommended dramas/movies

this is my list of some of my personal favorites, I’ve watched every single one of these and I recommend them all! of course, you can always find one that suits your style. :)

you can watch these dramas/films here 

count: 18

orange 

movie

plot: One day, Naho Takamiya receives a letter written to herself from ten years in the future. As Naho reads on, the letter recites the exact events of the day, including the transfer of a new student into her class named Kakeru Naruse. 

this is one of my favorite movies oh my god. the tension between all of the characters is just so good and it sometimes feels a bit cliche, but this series is just so well done in my opinion. I love the connection all the friends have together and the relationship between the two main characters above. this movie is actually based off a manga that has an anime adaption series and movie also + being a huge tear jerker lol.

kimi ni todoke

movie

plot: Well-meaning, but socially awkward, Sawako Kuronuma is nicknamed “Sadako” by her classmates because of her similar hair cut with the main character from the horror movie “Ring”. Her life then takes a turn when Shota Kazehaya, the most popular boy in school, falls for her

another one of my personal favorites. I watched the anime (and read the manga) before the movie and from that experience I enjoyed it a lot (of course watching the movie gives off a different feel, but it’s the same almost). I love the characters relationships and how they make the lead female finally come out of her shell and you can just see so many sides of her. also, Miura Haruma is in it and that just made it better lmao.

koizora

movie/drama

plot: The story revolves around Mika (named after the author), who falls in love with her classmate, Hiroki, upon entering high school.

okay, the plot makes this sound so cute and it is but in some scenes. the manga actually goes way more in depth with the relationship of the two main characters and the drama, but the movie is more of a short version of what’s really happening in their relationship. I loved the drama so much, but I’d have to say the movie is one of my favorites. one thing about this though that I warn you on, if you are triggered by r*pe and abo*tion than I’d strongly ignore this movie, but the story between the two main’s is one of my favorites. also another tear jerker.

last cinderella

drama

plot: Sakura is a single 39-year-old woman. She works at a beauty salon as its vice manager. Sakura makes customers pretty, but she isn’t interested in making herself pretty. She envies falling in love, but at the same time is afraid of falling in love.

the plot may sound a bit boring?? maybe???? it’s one of my fave dramas. the relationship between the two main’s is just so cute. I also love Sakura’s character she’s my favorite lol. this drama also deals with 4 other character’s that Sakura is in cahoots with and their problems too.

koe koi

drama

plot: Yoshioka Yuiko begins the first grade in high school. She gets sick with the cold and stays in bed. At that time, she gets a phone call from class president Matsubara. Yuiko becomes flattered by his kind voice on the phone. The next day, she goes to school and meets Matsubara. He is a mysterious boy, wearing a paper bag over his head. Her high school days begin with pounding heart.

THIS IS SUCH A PURE DRAMA, I LOVE ALL OF THE CHARACTERS THEY ARE SO CUTE. I love the main character Yuiko though. she has a very sweet charm and her attitude is just so nice I love her positiveness (except her denseness). I also just love the plot, like the whole idea of beauty within rather than outside because the main male wears just a paper bag and his actions are just so sweet and the acceptance Yuiko gives to Shuu really changes his thought process and…. I overall just love this series it’s just so pure and cute. also this was from a manga!

good morning call

drama

plot: Yoshikawa Nao stays behind to live by herself when her parents leave to inherit her grandpa’s farm in the country. On the day she moves into her new apartment, she discovers that it was rented also to Uehara Hisashi; a cute, super-cool, popular guy from her school. Not only did their housing agency unexpectedly close down, the landlord of the apartment tells them that they had to pay more for their apartment than they had expected. With no money and no home to return to, Nao and Hisashi decide to live together as flatmates.

this honestly was such a cute series, even though it made me cry lol in some parts because of the love triangle that goes down between the characters and the two friends of the main girl character honestly sold me to this series lol this is based off a manga also.

biri gyaru

movie

plot: Kudo Sayaka is a 2nd grade high school student. She is a gal who wears miniskirts and has her hair dyed blonde. Even though she is a high school student, her actual academic grade level is on par with 4th grade elementary school students. During the summer, Sayaka attends a private institution. There, she meets Teacher Tsubota. Besides her mother, Teacher Tsubota is the first adult to praise her.

this movie, wow. the plot may sound like something not interesting, but it honestly was such a good movie. I wished I could have seen this when I was going through high school lol;; it was a big tear jerker for me to be honest. I loved the main character, Sayaka, she has such a good willpower and her relationship with many of the people she meets and her mother is one of the reasons why I like her so much. this was based off of a true story too!

bandage

movie

plot: Set in Japan in the 1990s, there’s one rising band called LANDS, that is starting to find success amidst a flood of other bands. Asako and Miharu are two Tokyo high school students. When Miharu gives Asako her favorite indie rock band; a LANDS CD, she becomes an overnight fan and sets her heart on the talented guitarist Yukiya. LANDS was formed among friends, but as the band begins to climb the ladder towards major stardom, they get in touch with the dark side of the music industry, discord surfaces, inevitable frictions emerge, and unrequited love strains their friendship, threatening to pull their bonds apart.

honestly, I feel like the plot gives away the story but it is still a good movie. the relationships within it really have an impact in my opinion, each person comes from their own darkness and it’s up to them whether they want to change for the better or not. I really liked the actors’ passion during this film (as all of these films and dramas) because the emotion is just so well done and the drama within it, oh my god. this one of course is another tear jerker.

L♥DK

movie

plot: Nishimori Aoi’s parents moved to another city for work, but Aoi didn’t want to transfer to a new high school. She stays behind and lives in an apartment by herself. Shusei Kugayama moves in next to Aoi’s apartment. Shusei is a very popular student at their high school. Due to a mistake, Aoi makes the fire sprinkler go off in his room. Until Shusei’s room is fixed, he stays with Aoi.

this movie, oh my god. it has so many good aspects to it in my opinion. the comedy factor in it really adds to the two main’s relationship (and can I just say I love their relationship lol). this movie, once again, has made me cry because the love triangle that surrounds it. this is another good movie though, if you’re looking for some good romance films that might tear you up. also based on a manga!

ao haru ride

movie

plot: When she was a middle school student, Yoshioka Futaba liked Tanaka Kou who was unlike the other boys and quite gentle. Kou then moved away and they lost contact. At the end of Futaba’s first year as a high school student she meets Kou again. Kou’s name has changed to Mabuchi Kou and his personality seems different from his middle school days.

I am so sososososooooo in love with this movie. I love the author of this series (manga/anime) and I’m glad another one of her works was made into a film. I wasn’t go big on Strobe Edge even though it’s one of my favorite manga’s, but this movie I think really went along with both the manga and the anime. I love the two main character’s odd relationship within the beginning of it because they really understood each other. I think this movie actually did justice to both the anime and the manga, but of course that’s just my opinion. another tear jerker btw ;;;;

kanojo wa uso wo aishisugiteru

movie

plot: Set within music field, “Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru” depicts a love story between a 25-year-old sound engineer and 16-year-old high school student Riko, who posessess a gifted voice. 25-year-old sound engineer Aki (Takeru Sato) is a member of popular band “Crude Play,” but right after the band decides to make their major record debut Aki quits the band. But, Aki provides his music to Crude Play under the name of producer Soichiro. Aki begins to date Riko (Sakurako Ohara), whose father runs a fruit and vegetable shop. Riko doesn’t know about Aki’s background, but she likes to listen to him hum. Riko is in a band herself, with childhood friend Yuichi and Sota. One day she is scouted by producer Soichiro.

THE MANGA IS SO GOOD ALSO I RECOMMEND BOTH!!!! 

now we move onto some Korean drama/movies I enjoy!

200 pounds beauty

movie

plot: Hanna is a lip sync vocalist for Ami, the famous Korean pop singer. Even though she is always ignored because of her appearance, she has been a bright and lighthearted girl until Amy humiliates her in front of Sang Jun, her secret love. At last she makes a decision of a lifetime to have plastic surgery all over her body.

I absolutely loooooooove this movie. it has such a strong message towards the ending and I really found it powerful. the struggle the main character goes through with her insecurities and weight loss really broke my heart and made me think of this other film called Phat (which also deals with strong insecurities mid of the comedy) which I also really liked as a kid. this movie though, it made me cry more than once and laugh. I can’t fathom how good it was, maybe I’m giving it too much credit but I just really liked it.

she was pretty

drama

plot: Kim Hye Jin was a very pretty girl from a rich family. After her family’s publishing company went bankrupt, she experienced hardships then lost her beauty too. Ji Seong Jun was an unattractive boy with low self-esteem, but grows up as a handsome and successful editor.

this drama oh my gooooooosh!!! it was a ride of emotions, let me tell you. I love this drama so much though, but the amount of different emotions between crying, laughing, rooting for someone was so tough. it’s one of my favorite dramas though, I just love everyone’s relationships and the series kept me on my toes, it really didn’t disappoint. many times there was some obvious things that as a viewer you’d see beforehand actually happen minutes later, but I still adored it. the music is also one of my favorites! the main song “close to you” by the carpenters is one of my faves.

witch’s romance

drama

plot: Ban Ji Yeon is a single 39 year-old woman. She works as a reporter and is very enthusiastic about her work. So much so that she is often called a “witch” at work. She doesn’t believe in true love, because of her past experience when her boyfriend disappeared prior to their wedding. Yoon Dong Ha is 25 year-old young man who runs a small errand center with his friend. He looks like a happy guy, but he lost his girlfriend by an accident. Sparks fly when Ji Yeon and Dong Ha meet, and despite the age difference, they find a lot in common with each other, including their scarred hearts.

the gif above is one my fave scenes lmao. I also love this series!!!! it has so much cute romance it almost makes everything okay until the middle of the series when the real drama starts and a love triangle that made me cry but it’s really funny and the characters I think are great they really played their roles well in my opinion.

miracle in cell no.7

movie

plot: Lee Yong Gu is a mentally impaired father with the intellect of a six-year-old, who lives in a run-down house along with his daughter of the same age, Ye Seung. One day, he gets into a physical altercation with the police commissioner, who has just purchased the last Sailor Moon backpack for his daughter, a gift Yong Gu was saving up to buy for Ye Seung. Soon after, the police commissioner’s daughter dies in a freak accident while she is taking Yong Gu to another store that sells the same backpack. When he tries to resuscitate her, a woman witnesses him and mistakes him to be molesting her. Yong Gu is falsely accused of the abduction, murder, and rape of a minor. The police quickly take advantage of his disability and force him to admit to committing the crimes, while ignoring exonerating evidence. Yong Gu is imprisoned and assigned to Cell No. 7, the harshest cell in a maximum security prison.

I….. honestly have no words that I can say that could fathom how much this movie hurt me and also how beautiful it was.

weightlifting fairy kim bok joo

drama

plot: This drama is inspired by the life of South Korean Olympic weightlifter gold-medalist Jang Mi Ran and it’s about college athletes who fighting for their dreams and finding love. 

THIS IS A GOOD ONE, I CAN’T EXPLAIN WHY, BUT IT JUST IS. many of you might’ve heard this one before, it’s fairly popular and I’d definitely give it a shot. it’s super cute and funny and drama-fied of course lol;;; 

school 2015

drama

plot: Sekang High School is the most prestigious private high school in Seoul’s Gangnam District, and Go Eun Byul is the most popular girl there. Meanwhile, her identical twin Lee Eun Bi is living in an orphanage and is being bullied at school. Then one day, Eun Byul mysteriously disappears. Soon after, Eun Bi loses her memories and is mistaken as being Eun Byul. Eun Bi then starts living her life as Eun Byul.

CAN I JUST SAY WOW ON THIS SERIES???? LIKE IDK WHAT TYPE OF EMOTIONS I AM SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING ABOUT THIS ONE, IT’S REALLY GOOD BUT IT’S ALSO SAD. 

bonus:

mars

drama

plot: The story revolves around Kira and Rei, two high school students. Kira is an extremely introverted artist, and Rei is an outgoing playboy with a frightening violent side. The two start a friendship and eventually a romance after Rei sees a drawing that Kira drew on the back of a map she gave him. However, both Kira and Rei are hiding troubled pasts, and through their relationship they confront their past demons. Masao, a student at Kira and Rei’s school, has a connection to Rei’s violent past. He enters Kira and Rei’s lives to try to force Rei to return to the person he used to be.

SUCH! A! GOOD! DRAMA! I highly recommend this one, I’d also read the manga because it’s just sooooo good. the gif above is actually from the Taiwanese release which is amazing just as the new release which is called “MARS - Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru” and a movie with the same name except it’s the Japanese release. I’d check all 3 out and definitely read the manga to get the feel of it because it’s just such a good classic shoujo.

I hope you all liked this recommendation list, I may or may not do more in the future! my plot descriptions also come from the famous kissasian btw!